The obesity ‘vaccine’ stimulates antibodies to attack a hormone that promotes slow metabolism and weight gain.
Tests on mice showed a ten per cent drop in body weight after four days and US researchers say it could avoid the need for surgery and the side-effects sometimes caused by strong drugs.
Dr Keith Haffer, of Braasch Biotech, South Dakota, said: ‘This study demonstrates the possibility of treating obesity with vaccination.
‘Although further studies are necessary to discover the long term implications of these vaccines, treatment of human obesity with vaccination could provide physicians with a drug and surgical-free option against the weight epidemic.’
Obesity costs the NHS an estimated £50milion-a-year as well the UK economy over £2billion.
Health experts claim tens of thousands of Britons die prematurely every year from obesity-related conditions.